2 Chronicles 13:3 kjv
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor.
2 Chronicles 13:3 nkjv
Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.
2 Chronicles 13:3 niv
Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.
2 Chronicles 13:3 esv
Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors.
2 Chronicles 13:3 nlt
Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.
2 Chronicles 13 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 14:6 | Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come, let us go over to the garrison... | God saves by many or few. |
| Judg 7:2 | The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give... | God reduces army for His glory. |
| Deut 20:4 | For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you... | God fights for His people. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | A king is not saved by his great army... but by His love and mercy | Human strength is futile for victory. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of... | Trust in God, not military might. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. The horse.. | God's sovereignty over battle outcomes. |
| 2 Chr 14:9-12 | Zerah the Cushite came out against them with an army of a million men... | God's intervention in numerical disadvantage. |
| 2 Chr 16:7-9 | For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro... to show Himself strong on behalf... | God seeks those trusting Him. |
| 1 Ki 12:20 | None but the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David. | Divided Kingdom context. |
| 2 Chr 11:4 | This thing is from Me... that they might not fight against their brethren... | God's hand in kingdom division. |
| Isa 30:15 | In quietness and in trust shall be your strength. | God-given strength from reliance on Him. |
| Jer 17:5 | Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength... | Cursing those who trust in human strength. |
| Hos 1:7 | I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD... | God's promised salvation, not by battle. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | God's power through His Spirit. |
| Eph 6:10 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. | Strength found in the Lord. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's support renders opposition meaningless. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Divine strength enables victory. |
| Heb 11:34 | Quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong.. | Faith gives strength to overcome. |
| 1 Jn 4:4 | Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. | God's presence as greater strength. |
| Josh 23:10 | One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who.. | God enables few to overcome many. |
| Ps 44:6 | For not by my bow do I triumph, nor does my sword save me. | Rejection of self-reliance for victory. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | God chose what is foolish... weak... to shame the wise... strong. | God uses weak to confound strong. |
| 2 Cor 10:4 | For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power.. | Spiritual warfare, not carnal. |
| Gen 14:14-16 | Abram led out his trained men, born in his house, 318... | Small force achieves victory by divine help. |
| Ex 14:13-14 | The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | God fighting for His people in desperation. |
2 Chronicles 13 verses
2 Chronicles 13 3 Meaning
2 Chronicles 13:3 details the numerical strength of the opposing armies led by King Abijah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel. It states that Abijah assembled 400,000 "valiant warriors," while Jeroboam arrayed 800,000 "picked, valiant warriors" against him, setting the stage for a battle where Judah was vastly outnumbered by Israel's elite forces. This verse highlights the overwhelming numerical disparity between the two kingdoms preparing for a major conflict.
2 Chronicles 13 3 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 13 describes the battle between Abijah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. This conflict occurs decades after the unified kingdom of Israel split following the death of Solomon (1 Ki 12, 2 Chr 10). Jeroboam had led the northern tribes in rebellion, establishing a separate kingdom and introducing calf worship to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, thereby securing his reign politically (1 Ki 12:26-33). Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, ruled Judah, upholding the worship of the LORD in Jerusalem, though not without his own moral failings. Verse 3 sets the scene for this epic confrontation, emphasizing the enormous military power arrayed by both sides, especially Jeroboam's considerable advantage in numbers. It prefaces Abijah's powerful speech, which would contrast Judah's trust in the LORD with Israel's reliance on human strength and false gods, foreshadowing a divine intervention despite the overwhelming odds.
2 Chronicles 13 3 Word analysis
- Abijah (אֲבִיָּה 'Abiyyah): Means "My father is Yah (the LORD)". This name itself is significant, pointing to a king whose identity is tied to the God of Israel, in contrast to Jeroboam who led Israel into apostasy. He assembled.
- four hundred thousand (אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף 'arba' me'ot 'elef): A vast number, highlighting Judah's military capacity, yet remarkably smaller than Israel's. These large numbers in Chronicles often signify the gravity of the event and God's powerful hand in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
- valiant warriors (גִּבֹּרֵי מִלְחָמָה gibborey milchamah): Lit. "mighty men of war." This term denotes strength, bravery, and military prowess. Judah's army was not just numerous but also composed of capable fighters.
- Jeroboam (יָרָבְעָם Yarov'am): Means "the people will contend" or "he increases the people." A politically shrewd leader, but one who explicitly led his kingdom into idolatry, contrasting sharply with Judah's titular allegiance to the LORD.
- set the battle in array (יַעֲרֹךְ לֹו יָרָבְעָם מִלְחָמָה ya'arokh lo Yabro'am milchamah): "Arrayed for him a battle." This describes the strategic preparation for war, deploying forces, and lining up for confrontation. It indicates intentional, organized warfare.
- against him (לֹו lo): Indicates direct confrontation, showing Jeroboam initiating or responding with force against Abijah.
- eight hundred thousand (שְׁמֹנֶה מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף shəmonēh me'ot 'elef): Double Judah's force, emphasizing Israel's numerical supremacy.
- picked valiant warriors (בַּחוּר גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל bachur gibborey chayil): Lit. "chosen/selected mighty men of strength/valor." The term "picked" (בַּחוּר bachur) adds an extra layer of emphasis. It signifies an elite, specially chosen force, suggesting not just numerical superiority but also qualitative excellence. Jeroboam's army was not merely large, but highly formidable, composed of the best available fighters. This intensifies the magnitude of the challenge Judah faced.
2 Chronicles 13 3 Bonus section
The Chronicler's frequent use of large numbers throughout 1 & 2 Chronicles often serves a rhetorical purpose: to magnify the extent of divine blessing (in peacetime growth) or the enormity of the challenge God overcame (in battle). In this context, the immense figures underscore the "humanly impossible" odds, thus emphasizing the miraculous nature of God's intervention. Scholars often note that while specific numbers in ancient texts can be stylistic or representative rather than strictly precise, their role in conveying a message is paramount. Here, the sheer scale of the armies sets up a theological statement: even with twice the strength and "picked" warriors, the apostate kingdom of Israel would fall to a smaller army, due to Judah's relative, albeit imperfect, faithfulness and a specific appeal to the LORD by Abijah. This narrative subtly yet powerfully condemns the humanistic reliance on might and reasserts God's active involvement in the destiny of His chosen people. The Chronicler, writing from a post-exilic perspective, used such accounts to encourage his audience to trust in the LORD and remain faithful, rather than fearing overwhelming enemies or relying on unreliable alliances.
2 Chronicles 13 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 13:3 lays the critical foundation for the narrative of Abijah's victory, establishing the profound numerical disadvantage Judah faced against Israel. By meticulously detailing the army sizes—400,000 for Abijah versus Jeroboam's 800,000 elite warriors—the Chronicler underscores that any victory by Judah would clearly be a divine accomplishment, not a result of superior human strength or strategy. This dramatic disparity immediately raises the theological stakes of the impending battle. The choice of words "valiant warriors" for both armies, and "picked valiant warriors" for Israel, further amplifies Jeroboam's perceived military supremacy, emphasizing his human confidence. This setup creates a classic Biblical scenario where God is glorified through delivering His people when they are weakest, demonstrating His sovereignty over all earthly powers and challenging the prevailing trust in military might, urging instead reliance on the Creator. It highlights that the strength of a nation lies not in its army's size but in its relationship with God, echoing the truth that "The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace" (Ps 29:11).